Subscription television system



Aug. 10, 1965 c. G. ExLERs ETAI. R- 25,336

SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION SYSTEM Original Filed June 4. 1952 l2 Sheets-Sheet l THEIR ATTORNEY.

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Aug. l0, 1965 C. G. EILERS ETAL SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION SYSTEM Original Filed June 4. 1952 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 CARL G. EILERS ERwlN M. RoscHKE JNVENToRs.

THEIR ATTORNEY.

Aug. 10, 1965 c. G. EILERs ETAL R- 25,835

SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION SYSTEM Original Filed June 4. 1952 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 Am .2m 2 uvSaEoo Bouw uwunvwv xoonumwm mm Sem www l. mm S26 CARL. G. EILERS ERwlN MROSGHKE JNVENToRs.

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THEIR ATTORNEY Aug. 10, 1965 c. G. ElLERs E'rAL. Re 25,836

SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION SYSTEM Original Filed June 4. 1952 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 mh hb Nh Aug. 10, 1965 c. G. Elu-:Rs ErAL. Re 25,835

SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION SYSTEM Original Filed June 4. 1952 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 T liliwm 9 mVENToRs.-

CARL G E|LERs ERwlN MROSCHKE THEIR ATTOR Y.

A118- 10 1965 c. G. EILERs ETAL Re. 25,836

SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION SYSTEM Original Filed June 4. 1952 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 Aug. l0, 1965 c. G. EILERs ETAL Re- 25,835

SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION SYSTEM Qrginal Filed June 4. 1952 12 Sheets-Sheet T ERWIN M. ROSGHKE INVENTORS.

INI ...Sgm Qwwsm -Evi B THEIR ATTORNEY Aug. l0, 1965 C. G. EILERS ETAL SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION SYSTEM Original Filed June 4. 1952 12 SheetsSheet 8 F I G 8 A ,6g/l 92 From nI/ager des To Video ling-Delay Line 8 Switch Field Drive Pulses From Genoor -SIT Puses From Goe CircuiiOH- 324 l( Delay Line 315 S25-8| Switch CARL G. EILERS ERWIN M. ROSCHKE JNVENToRs.

(mr/@M7 THEIR ATTORNEY Aug. l0, 1965 c. G. EILERs ETAL Re- 25,836

SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION SYSTEM Original Filed June 4. 1952 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 d t CARL G. Elu-:Rs ERwIN M. RoscHKE IN VEN TORS. vmz// THEIR ATTORNEY.

Aug. 1o, 1965 C. G. EILERS ETAL SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION SYSTEM Original Filed June 4. 1952 12 Sheets-Sheet v 1 0 FIG. IO Line circuit I l From Subscr. FSH? Z'nd video lI-Delaya is lmcge Tansm. e ec or me epro ucer r 35j 4 L22 Amplifier Swnch g Key-Signal 20| '2l |25 |27 It! Filter e 29 1 f Rectifier Sync. Line- To Line selecto, Signal Sweep Deflection Separator System Elements Key-Signal |28 Filter 8i l l '26 *Rectifier "202 L l FieId- To Fieldf Sweep Deflection System Elements I ine Syncs |29 i- 204` 2o5\ [203 zolslil Delay Counter 'b h P l. l. Line s Oper Mixer (Fig.8A)

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THEIR ATTORNEY A118- 10. 1965 c. G. EILERS ETAL Re 25,836

SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISIN SYSTEM 12 Sheets-Sheet 1l Original Filed June 4. 1952 CARL G. EILERs ERwIN MRoscI-IKE INI/amazes. 'Aa/// I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I IJ. LI.

THEIR ATTORNEY.

Aug. l0, 1965 C. G. EILERS ETAL Original Filed June 4. 1952 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 FIG. i3

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THEIR ATTORNEY.

United States Patent O 25,836 SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION SYSTEM Carl G. Eilers, Fairhury, and Erwin M. Roschire, Des Plaines, Ill., assignors to Zenith Radio Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Original No. 2,883,449, dated Apr. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 291,714, June 4, 1952. Application for reissue Feb. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 6,086

32 Claims. (Cl. Utl-5.1)

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to subscription television systems in which a television signal is distributed in coded form for use only in subscriber receivers having appropriate decoding apparatus actuated in accordance with the coding schedule of the telecast.

Subscription television systems as such are already known in the art, being disclosed and claimed for example in Patent 2,510,046 to Ellett et al. and in Patent 2,547,598 to Roschke, both of which are assigned to the present assignee. In these prior systems, coding of the subscription television signal is accomplished by altering some characteristic of that signal during spaced intervals which may have a duration corresponding to several fieldtraee intervals and which may have a time separation also corresponding to one or more field-trace intervals. In the Roschlre system, for example, the relative timing of the video and synchronizing components of the television signal is altered from one value to another during spaced operating intervals which may occur during field retrace and a key signal is distributed to the subscriber receivers conveying information concerning the actual times of occurrence of such intervals. Where the signal alterations take place after one or more field intervals, the coding process may be characterized as a slower than field rate. It is desirable in certain applications to employ faster than field coding, that is, coding the subscription signal by altering some characteristic thereof at intervals occurring more frequently than the field intervals. Systems of this type are described and claimed in copending application Serial No. 36,778, tiled July 2, 1948, and issued October 20, 1953, as Patent 2,656,406, in the name of Richard O. Gray et al., and in copending application Serial No. 94,643, filed May 21, 1949, and issued October 20, 1953, as Patent 2,656,408, in the name E Richard O. Gray et al., both of which are assigned to the present assignee. This has the advantage of increasing the coding complexity which reduces the possibility of unauthorized deciphering and utilization of the telecast.

Certain practical or operating ditliculties may be experienced in a faster-than-tield coding system in providing precise registration between the coding apparatus at the subscription transmitter and the decoding apparatus at the subscriber receivers. In the systems of the Ellett and Roschke patents referred to above, the decoding apparatus at each receiver is usually actuated during fieldretrace intervals in response to information distributed thereto from the transmitter. When such apparatus is used in a faster-than-tield coding system, it should be actuated during the line retrace to avoid distortion, but in view `of the time limitations of the line-retrace intervals, it is difficult to construct commercially practical equipment capable of being controlled at such times.

ln an alternative system, no direct control is exerted upon the decoding apparatus of the subscriber receivers from the transmitter. In such a case the coding appararatus at the transmitter is actuated in accordance with a fixed coding schedule which may be derived, for examn ple, from a magnetic tape, while the decoding apparatus Re. 25,836 Reissued Aug. l0, 1965 ICC at each receiver is actuated in accordance with an identical coding schedule, likewise derived from a magnetic tape. The tapes at the transmitter and receivers are synchronized by any known means so that the coding and decoding apparatus operate in time coincidence. A disadvantage in this system resides in the intlexibility and repetitive nature of the coding schedule, and in the diiiiculty of maintaining precise synchronization and proper phase relation between the coding apparatus at the transmitter and the decoding apparatus at each receiver.

The present invention provides a system which, like the above described system, requires no direct control from the transmitter during the field-trace intervals to actuate the encoding apparatus during such intervals, and so is especially suited for faster-than-field coding. Yet the system of the invention is such that difficulties as to precise synchronization are overcome, and the encoding apparatus may be actuated many times during each fieldtrace interval and in accordance with a flexible and nonrepetitive coding schedule. The invention may be practiccd in either the transmitter or receiver and thus the term encoding" is employed in its generic sense to encompass either coding at the transmitter or decoding at the receiver.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved subscription television system in which the subscription television signal is coded with a high degree of complexity.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an improved system in which the mode of the transmitted television signal is varied at a relatively high rate to render unauthorized decoding extremely difficult,

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved subscription television system in which mode changes occur at intervals corresponding to a small fraction ot the field-trace period.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved subscription television system employing fasterthan-eld coding and in which precise registration is maintained between the encoding apparatus at the transinitier and at the various receivers even though such coding may proceed in accordance with a random schedule.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved encoding apparatus for use at the transmitter and/or receiver of a subscription television system which may employ faster-than-tield coding.

l'n accordance with `one aspect of the invention, a subscription television system for translating a television signal includes an encoding device having at least two distinct operating conditions each of which establishes a different operating mode in the system. A control mechanism is coupled to the encoding device and responds to an applied signal for effecting actuation of the encoding device between its operating conditions to encode the television signal in accordance with a predetermined code schedule. Means are provided for applying a periodic signal to the control mechanism to effect actuation of the encoding device in a predetermined periodic repeating sequence. Additionally, there are means coupled to the control mechanism, including means for disrupting the periodic sequence at times and effecting actuation of the encoding device to a predetermined one of its operating conditions, for modifying the code schedule.

ln a specic transmitter embodiment, the control mechanism takes the form of a pulse-counting mechanism responsive to a predetermined operating condition for registering a reference count and effective upon the registration of predetermined pulse counts to effect actuation of a multi-condition coding device from one to another of its operating conditions. At least one pulsesignal source is provided for applying pulses to thc counting mechanism to be counted thereby, and a reset circuit is couplcd to the counting mechanism for establishing the aforesaid predetermined operating condition therein. A network is coupled to the reset circuit for actuating the reset circuit at selected intervals, and means are provided for distributing to the subscriber receiver a key signal bearing at least partial information concerning the times of actuation of the reset circuit.

A receiver comprises an image-reproducing device and an associated scanning system, and also includes circuit means for supplying the television signal to the reproducing device and its scanning system. A decoding device is included in the circuit means and has at least two operating conditions each of which establishes a dilferent operating mode in the receiver. A pulse counting mechanism is provided which responds to a predetermined operating condition for registering a reference count and which is effective upon the registration of predetermined `pulse counts related to those at the transmitter to effect actuation of the decoding device from one to another of its aforesaid operating conditions. for deriving a series of pulses corresponding to the pulses counted at the transmitter, and for applying these pulses to the counting mechanism to be counted thereby. A reset circuit is coupled to the pulse counting mechanism for establishing the aforesaid predetermined operating condition therein, and means is also provided for utilizing the key signal from the transmitter to supply reset pulses to the reset circuit to establish the reference count in the receiver counting mechanism at times corresponding to the establishment of the reference count in the transmitter counting mechanism.

The features of this invention which are believed to be new are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein corresponding parts are identified by similar reference numerals and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation of a subscription television transmitter constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention,

FIGURES 2-3 comprise various curves used in explaining the operation of the transmitter of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a detailed representation of a counting mechanism constituting one of the components of the transmitter of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 5 shows a control mechanism which is included in the transmitter of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 6 comprises various curves employed in explaining the operation of the control mechanism of FIG- URE 5,

FIGURE 7 represents a subscription television receiver for operation in conjunction with the transmitter of FIG- URE 1,

FIGURE 8 represents a portion of a subscription transmitter constituting another embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 8a is a circuit diagram of one of the components of the arrangement of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 9 comprises various curves depicting certain operating characteristics of the transmitter of FIGURE 8,

FIGURE 10 is a schematic diagram of a portion of a receiver for utilizing the signal emitted by a transmitter embodying the arrangement of FIGURE 8,

FIGURE 11 represents a further embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 12 comprises various curves used in explaining the operation of the arrangement of FIGURE 11,

FIGURE 13 represents the encoding portion of a transmitter constructed in accordance with still another embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 14 is a schematic diagram of the decoding portion of a receiver for operating in conjunction with the coder of FIGURE 13, and

Means is provided FIGURE l5 represents a counting mechanism that may be used in the arrangement of FIGURE 13 or FIGURE 14.

The transmitter of FIGURE 1 includes a picture-converting device 10 which may be an iconoscope, image orthicon or any other known device for deriving a video signal representing an image to be televised. The output terminals of device 10 are connected to a video amplier 11 which, in turn, is connected to a video-delay `line and switch 12 constructed in a manner similar to that disclosed and claimed in copending application Serial No. 243,039, entitled Subscription Television System, lilcd August 22, 1951, and issued August 7, 1956, as Patent 2,758,153, in the name of Robert Adler, and assigned to the present assignee. It comprises a beam-deflection tube having at least two target elements to which video amplifier 11 may be selectively coupled in accordance with the deflected position of the beam. A time-delay network is connected in cascade with only one of the target elements so that when the beam is incident upon that target a delay is introduced into the video channel, otherwise it is not. An actuating signal applied to the dellection elements of the beam tube determines whether or not the delay network is functionally included in the video channel of the transmitter. The output terminals of unit 12 are connected to a mixer amplifier 13 having output terminals coupled through a direct-current inserter 14 to a carrier-wave generator and modulator 15, the output terminals of unit 15 being connected to a suitable antenna circuit 16, 17.

The transmitter further includes a synchronizing and pedestal signal generator 18 connected to mixer amplifier 13 to supply lineand field-synchronizing pulses and associated pedestal pulses thereto. Generator 18 also supplies line-drive pulses to a line-sweep system 20 and fielddrive pulses to a held-sweep system 21 to synchronize the operation of these systems in well-known fashion. The output terminal of sweep systems 20 and 21 are connecte-d to line-deection elements 22 and field-deflection elements 23 associated with device 10.

Generator 18 additionally supplies line-drive pulses to a counting mechanism 24 which in this instance comprises a series or chain of binary counters 25-28, and a feed back path 29 extending from binary 28 to binary 2S. The output terminals of counting mechanism 24 are connected to a control system 30 which, in turn, is connected to the deflection elements of video-delay line and switch 12 by leads 31.

Generator 18 supplies field-drive pulses to a random frequency divider 32 preferably constructed as disclosed and claimed in Patent 2,588,413, issued March l1, 1952, in the name of Erwin M. Roschke and assigned to the present assignee. The output terminals of divider 32 are connected to an Eccles-Jordan circuit or multivibrator 33 which, in turn, is connected to a key-signal generator 34. One pair of output terminals of the key-signal generator is connected to a line circuit 35 which extends to the various subscriber receivers, while another pair of output terminals is connected to control system 30 by leads 36.

Generator 18 further supplies line-drive pulses to a delay line 37 connected through a gate circuit 38 to the input circuits of the various binaries 25-28 for reset purposes as will be explained hereinafter. Generator 18 also supplies held-drive pulses to a delay line 39 connected to gate circuit 38 through a differentiating circuit 40, and supplies field-drive pulses to a delay line 41 which is connected to control system 30 through a ditferentiator and clipper 42.

In the operation of the transmitter, picture converting device 10 develops video-frequency components representing the image intelligence of a program to be televised, and these components are amplified in video arnplitier 11 and supplied to mixer amplifier 13 through video-delay line and switch l2. Unit 12 selectively delays the video components Isupplied to the mixer amplier under the -control of the actuating or control signal applied thereto over leads 31 from control system 30. The video components are combined in the mixer amplier with the synchronizing and pedestal components from generator 18; and the resulting television signal is adjusted as to background level in D.C. inserter 14, modulated on a picture carrier in unit 15, and radiated to the subscriber receivers over antennas 16 and 17. The application of an actuating signal to unit 12 causes the radiated television signal to be effectively coded since the video -components thereof do not have an invariable timing with respect to the synchronizing components; rather, their time relation is varied in accordance with a coding schedule represented by the actuating signal applied to the deflection elements of unit 12 to deflect the beam thereof from one to the other of its target elements.

In a manner to be described in detail hereinafter, counting mechanism 24 registers predetermined pulse counts in response to the recurring line-drive pulses from gen` erator 18 and supplies to control system 30 a first control signal having characteristic variations determined by such pulse counts. Control system 30 utilizes the first control signal to supply a second control signal or actuating signal to video-delay l-ine and switch 12 over leads 31.

The operation of counting mechanism 24 and its reset arrangement as well as control system 30 may best be understood by reference to the curves of FIGURES 2 and 3. Throughout the application whenever reference is made to one of the illustrated curves, the waveform in question will be designated by a combination of a numeral and a letter. The number will represent the ligure in which the curve is displayed and the letter will indicate the particular waveform in that ligure. Line-drive pulses from generator 18, shown in curve 2A, are applied with negative polarity to the input circuit of binary 2S of the counting mechanism which, in accordance with wellestablished principles of binary counters, effects a 2:1 frequency division and, except for the occasional double pulses, develops the signal shown in curve B. The output signal from binary 25 is applied to binary 26 which is actuated by each negative excursion of the applied signal and thereby produces the signal of curve 2C. In like manner, the output signal from binary 26 triggers binary 27 causing it to generate the signal of curve 2D, and binary 27, in turn, actuates binary 28 to generate the signal of curve 2E. Due to the fact that there are four binaries in the illustrated arrangement, the normal count or frequency division is 16:1, that is, the signal of curve 2E normally has a negative excursion corresponding to every sixteenth line-drive pulse of curve 2A. However, due to the feed-back connection 29, the count of pulses applied to mechanism 24 is 15:1. The use of a feedback connection to establish an odd count is a well-known practice and a detailed description thereof is deemed to be unnecessary. Briefly, the feedback connection is so arranged that a positive excursion of the feed-back signal (curve 2E) affects binary 25 in the same manner as an applied line-drive pulse and advances the count registered one unit. This gives rise to the aforementioned d-oublepulse portions of curve 2B. The resulting 15:1 count is preferable in view of the composition of present-day commercial television signals in which each complete frame comprises two interlaced elds and is constituted by 525 lines. When a :1 4count is used, the binary counters of mechanism 24 are always in a selected condition at the beginning of each trarne, whereas if a 16:1 count were used the operating conditions of binary Z5 would alternate between two conditions at the beginning of successive frames. A continuation-in-part of the present application filed under Serial No. 344,996, on March 27, 1953, now abandoned, describes a system wherein the counting ratio is established purposely at a number which is non-integrally related to, or incommensurate with, the number of line intervals per image LTI frame. With such an arrangement, the encoding system assumes different operating conditions at the beginning of succeeding frames so that mode changes do not occur at corresponding line traces of successive frames. The reproduced picture therefore gives the appearance or illusion of walking or rolling toward the top or bottom of the image screen. Such a concept is claimed in copending application Serial No. 700,855, filed December 5, 1957, as a continuation of application Serial No. 259,169, originally filed November 30, 1951, in the name of Jacob M. Sacks, also assigned to the present assignee.

In the embodiment of FIGURE l of the present application, however, it is preferable that the binaries assume the same operating condition at the beginning of each frame so that a reset pulse supplied thereto at such times has no effect on the operating condition thereof unless any of the binaries should become out of step due to noise or for any other reason. Therefore, the purpose of the reset pulses is to assure that under all conditions the binaries will be in a reference condition at the beginning of each frame.

Line-drive pulses are concurrently applied to delay line 37 wherein they are delayed slightly and applied to normally-closed gate circuit 38. In addition, the field-drive pulses after a slight delay in delay line 39 are also applied to gate circuit 38 through a differentiating circuit 40. The positive pulse component `derived at the trailing edge of the field-drive pulse in ditierentiator 40 opens gate 38 for a short time interval to pass any line pulse received in that interval from line 37. The delay times of lines 37 and 39 are so correlated that gate circuit 38 translates a pulse corresponding to, but delayed in respect of, the first line-drive pulse following the start of each frame interval. The function of delay line 37 is to introduce such a delay that this pulse from gate circuit 38 occurs after binary 25 has been actuated by the corresponding, but undelayed, line-drive pulse delivered thereto. Gate circuit 38 is also opened at the start of the second field of each frame, but due to the shift in timing between the field-drive and line-drive pulses during the second field for interlace, no line-drive pulse arrives at the gate while it is thus open, Consequently the gate circuit admits a reset pulse to binaries 25-28 shortly after the start of the first field of every frame, but at no other times. This reset pulse is shown in the curve 2F.

The binaries are constructed so that when the reset pulse is received just after the output signal of any binary has undergone a negative excursion, the reset pulse has no effect thereon. An examination of curves 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E reveals that when the system is operating normally, each reset pulse occurs just after a negative excursion of the output signal of each binary and thus it has no effect. However, should any of the binaries be out of step due to the influence of noise or for any other reason, the reset pulse immediately restores it to its proper operating condition. When a 15:1 count is adhered to, the binaries normally tend to assume such loperating conditions at the start of each frame. Thus the reset pulse is merely a precaution to assure that even in the presence of noise the binaries are in a reference condition, registering a reference or zero count.

The output signal (curve 2E) of counter 24, which is referred to as the first control signal, is operated on by control system 30 to derive a second control signal or an actuating signal for application to video-delay line and switch 12. Control system 30, which is to be described more particularly hereinafter, functions in one aspect as a further binary imparting another Count or division to the output signal from counter 24. In the absence of a key signal on leads 36, the control system effects a simple 2:1 division of the signal from the counter and suppl-ies a second control signal or an actuating signal to videodelay line and switch 12, as shown in curve 2G. This signal actuates video-delay line and switch 12 between its two operating conditions to establish different operating modes in the transmitter. One mode prevails when the signal has its maximum value and another mode is established when that signal has its minimum value. The change from one mode to another occurs at a fasterthan-eld rate, specifically, after each group of lines. At the same time, the held-drive pulses from generator 18 are delayed in delay line 41 and are differentiated and clipped in unit 42 to supply positive reset pulses, shown in curve 2J, to the control system. The reset pulses occur at the beginning of each field, just after the signal (curve 2E) from counter 24 has undergone a negative amplitude excursion. As long as there is no key signal on leads 36, the reset pulses of curve 2] maintain the shown phase relation between the signal (curve 2E) from the counter and the output signal (curve 2G) of the control system. However, whenever, a burst of key signal is present on leads 36 and for a time correspending to the duration of such burst, the reset pulses applied to the control system effect a phase reversal of the output signal of the control system as compared with the control signal from the counter.

Therefore, the video-delay line and switch 12 is actuated every 15 lines of each field-trace interval to provide a mode change in the transmitter, and the phase of the control signal applied to switch 12 is inverted from time to time further to complicate the coding process, as determined by the key-signal generator 34. The times of the phase inversions are indicated to subscriber receivers by bursts of key signal distributed over line circuit 35.

Preferably key-signal generator 34 is energized at random intervals .and in the following manner. Fieldblanking pulses are supplied to random-frequency divider 32, the output of which triggers multivibrator 33 at random times determined by this division. vibrator develops a pulse-modulated signal which has pulse components initiated and terminated by successive randomly-divided pulses from the frequency divider .and supplies that signal to the key-signal generator. The keysignal generator is turned on for the duration of each pulse component of a chosen polarity (positive for eX- ample) and supplies a burst of key signal to line circuit 35 and control system 30 for the duration of each such component.

By way of recapitulation, the curves of FIGURE 3 repeat certain of those shown in FIGURE 2 but on a reduced time scale. Curve 3J shows the reset pulses applied to control system 30 at the beginning of each held-trace interval, and curve 3K shows a key-signal burst applied thereto over leads 36 from the key-signal generator. The duration of this burst corresponds substantially to an integral multiple (one or more) of the field periods. Curve 3E shows the control signal from counting mechanism 24. Prior to the initiation of the key-signal burst control system 30 develops `the signal of curve 3G with the illustrated phase relation in respect of the signal of curve 3E obtained from the counter. However, the rst reset pulse of curve 3J occurring after the key-signal burst has reached full amplitude, causes the output signal of curve 3G to be inverted in phase (as shown). This inversion is maintained until the occurrence of the reset pulse immediately following the termination of the keysignal burst, the latter reset pulse re-establishing the former phase relation.

The control signal derived from control system 30 exhibits, therefore, characteristic variations in time coincidence with corresponding variations in the control signal from counter 24 applied to the control system. However, the control signal derived from the control system additionally exhibits a further variation (such as a phase reversal) from time to time in response to the keysignal bursts from generator 34. When counter 24 is constructed so that the control signal applied to control system 30 has negative amplitude excursions occurring The multievery l5 lines of each field-trace, the control signal from the control system has a positive or a negative excursion occurring every 15 lines in correspondence with the excursions of the control signal from the counter. These excursions of the control signal from the contr-ol system operate unit 12 every 15 lines of each eld trace so that a corresponding mode change in the operation of the transmitter occurs at such intervals. The counter, however, need only be reset or maintained in a desired condition at intervals corresponding to several iields, and in the intervening intervals proceeds to produce precisely timed mode changes in the transmitter at a faster-than-eld rate.

FIGURE 4 shows details of the binary chain counter 24. The chain has a pair of input terminals connected to generator 18 to receive the line-drive pulses. One of the terminals is grounded; the other is coupled to the anodes of a pair of electron-discharge devices 51 and 52 through networks 53, 54 and 55, 56, respectively. The anodes of those devices are cross-connected to the respective control electrodes through respective networks 57 and 58, and are further connected to the positive terminal of a source of unidirectional potential 59 through load resistors 60 and 61. The cathodes of these devices are connected to ground through a common resistor 62.

The chain also includes further input terminals 63 connected to gate circuit 38 to derive the reset pulses therefrom. One of these terminals is grounded and the other is connected to the control electrode of device 52 through a resistor 64, the control electrode of device 51 being returned to ground through a resistor 65. The anode of device 52 is connected to one of the input terminals of binary 26 which, in turn, is similarly connected to binary 27. One of the output terminals of binary 27 is coupled to the anodes of the discharge devices of the final binary 28 in a manner similar to the input connections of binary 25, and the other output terminal is grounded. The feed-back connection from binary 28 to binary 25 extends from the anode of device 51 in binary 28 to the control electrode of device 52 of binary 25 through an amplier, diferentiator and clipper 65. The anode of device 52 in the final binary is connected to one of the output terminals 66 of the chain, the other output terminal being grounded. Output terminals 66 are connected to control system 30 as shown in FIGURE 1.

In considering the operation of the counter, it will be assumed initially that the mechanism is registering a zero or reference count in which condition tube 51 of each binary is cut-ott and tube 52 thereof is highly conductive. The negative-polarity line-drive pulses (curve 2A) applied to input terminals 50 trigger binary 25, that is, successive pulses reverse the conductive state of its tubes 51 and 52 causing it to generate the wave form of curve 2B. The negative excursions of the output signal of binary 25 are similarly effective in triggering binary 26 so that a frequency division or count is achieved and binary 26 generates the Wave of curve 2C. The output signal of binary 26 in like manner causes binary 27 to develop the wave of curve 2D which, in turn, causes binary 28 to generate the wave of curve 2E, utilized as the first control signal and supplied to output terminals 66 for application to control system 30. During normal operation of the counting mechanism, each binary is in its aforedescribed reference condition at the beginning of each frame period and thus during the occurrence of each reset pulse of curve 2F. These reset pulses are of positive polarity and are applied to control electrodes of the conductive tubes 52 of the binaries and have no efect. If for any reason any binary becomes out of step so that its tube 52 is non-conductive when the reset puise arrives, the reset pulse immediately triggers that binary back to its proper condition. Moreover, a negative pulse is applied to the control electrode of device 52 in biliary 25 from binary 28 by virtue of the feed-back circuit just after the sixteenth count so that, in wellknown manner, the counting mechanism counts instead of 16 insofar as the line-drive pulses are concerned.

In this fashion, pulse counting mechanism 24 responds to a predetermined operating condition established by the reset pulses of curve 2F for registering a reference count, and is eiiective upon the registration of predetermined pulse counts to eficct actuation of video-delay line and switch 12 from one to another of its operating conditions. The actuation of unit 12 is at a faster-than-field rate, occurring in the illustrated embodiment every fifteen lines of each field, while the reset pulses occur every second field to establish and maintain a point of reference for the count. Obviously, any other count register may be adopted to change the operating mode of the transmitter.

Control system is illustrated in FIGURE 5 and may be generally similar to that disclosed and claimed in copending application Serial No. 241,012, entitled Subscription Television System, filed August 9, 1951, and issued March 23, 1954, as Patent 2,673,239, in the name of Carl G. Eilers, and assigned to the present assignee. It has a pair of input terminals 7i) connected to keysignal generator 34 over leads 36 to receive bursts of key signal. One of the terminals is grounded and the other is coupled to the control electrode 71 of an amplifier 72 through a coupling capacitor 73, the control electrode being connected to ground through a grid-leak resistor 74. The cathode 75 of device 72 is connected to ground through a resistor 76 and the anode 77 is connected to the positive terminal B-lof a source of unidirectional potential through the primary winding 78 of a transformer 79, the negative terminal of this source being connected to ground. One side of the secondary winding fit1 of transformer 79 is connected to ground, and the other side of the secondary is connected tothe control electrode 81 of an electron-discharge device 82 through a rectifier S3 and a series resistor 84. The junction of the rectifier and series resistor is connected to ground through a resistor 16! shunted by a capacitor 101. The cathode 85 of discharge device 82 is connected to ground through a resistor 86 shunted `by a capacitor 87 and is also connected to the positive terminal of a Source of unidirectional potential titl through a resistor 89. The anode 90 of device 82 is connected to the anode of a device 91 which in conjunction with a discharge device 92 constitutes a binary counter or Eccles-Jordan multivibrator. The anodes of devices 91 and 92 are connected to the positive terminal of source S8 through resistors 93 and 94 respectively, and their cathodes are connected to ground.

The control system further includes another pair of input terminals 9S connected to binary 28, one of these terminals being grounded and the other being connected to the anodes of devices 91 and 92 through networks 113 and 114, respectively. The devices 91 and 92 are cross-connected and their control electrodes are returned through respective grid resistors to the negative terminals of a bias source C, the positive terminals of this source being connected to ground. The anodes of devices 91 .and 92 are further connected to a pair of output terminals 137 extending to video-delay line and switch 12.

Ffhe ungrounded side of secondary winding 80 is also connected to the control electrode 96 of an electron-discharge device 97 through a rectifier 98 and a series resistor 99, the junction of the rectifier and series resistor being connected to ground through a resistor 102 shunted by a capacitor 103. The cathode 104 of device 97 is connected to ground through a resistor 105 which is shunted by a capacitor 106 and is also connected to the positive terminal of a source 197 through a resistor 10S. The anode 199 of device 97 is connected to the anode of device 92.

The control system includes a further pair of input terminals 110 connected to differentiating circuit 42 to derive the reset pulses for the control system, one of these terminals being grounded and the other being coupled to control electrodes 81 and 96 through coupling capacitors 111 and 1112, respectively.

The operation of the control system may best be understood by reference to the curves of FIGURE 6. Whenever a burst of key signal, as shown in the curve 6K, is impressed across terminals 70 it is amplified in amplifier 72, rectified in rectifier 83, and supplied with positive polarity to the control electrode 81 of device 82. The amplitied burst is also rectified in rectifier 98 and applied to control electrode 96 of device 97 but with negative polarity. The reset pulses of curve 6J from ditferentiator and clipper' 42 are impressed across terminals 110 and are supplied to the control electrodes 81 and 96 with positive polarity. In this manner, a composite signal comprising the positive rectified bursts of key signal and positive reset pulses (shown in curve L) is supplied to the control electrode 81 of device 82, whereas a composite signal comprising the negative rectified bursts of key signal and positive reset pulses (shown in curve M) is applied to the control electrode 96 of device 97. Due to the forced bias on the cathodes ot' these devices, device 82 translates the reset pulses only during the intervals when they appear pedestalled on the positive rectified key-signal burst, whereas device 97 translates these pulses only during the intervals between negative rectified keysignal bursts. The reset pulses translated by device 82 appear across resistor 93 of device 91 and are shown in curve N, while the pulses translated by device 97 appear across resistor 94 of device 92 and are shown in curve P.

Devices 91 and 92 may be thought of as another binary with two stable operating c-onditions between which it is triggered with each negative excursion of the control signal (curve 6E.) from counter 24. Therefore, if the conductive condition of the devices is altered intermediate two successive negative excursions of the control signal, a phase reversal of the output signal of the circuit of these devices is obtained. As explained previously herein, counter 24 receives reset pulses (curve 2F) which establish and maintain a particular phase relation of the control signal from the counter, as shown in curves 2E and 6E.

In the absence of key signal bursts on leads 36, the pulses of curve P are translated by the device 97 and are applied to the control electrode of device 91. lf at that instant, device 91 is not cut-ofi, as it should be during normal operation for the assumed condition, the applied pulse (curve P) establishes that condition. As a consequence, the phase of the output signal from binary 91, 92 is indicated in curve 6G between the reference times and t2.

Assume now that a burst of key signal appears on leads 36 between the times l1 and t2, and that the first pulse of curve 6J to occur after the burst reaches maximum amplitude occurs ammediately after the time t2. At this time device 91 is cut-ofi and device 92 is conductive due to the triggering action of the control signal (curve 6E) from counter 24. (This is the normal condition referred to immediately above.) The reset pulse of curve 6J is no-w translated by device 82 to the control electrode of device 92 and reverses the conductive states of devices 91 and 92 as shown in curve 6G. This effects a phase reversal of the output signal from binary 91, 92 as compared with the phase preceding time t2. The reversed phase condition continues until the time t3 when the pulse of curve 6P succeeding the termination of the key-signal burst again introduces a phase change restoring the condition preceding the time t2.

In this manner, the contro] signal (curve 6E) from counter 24 causes the control system to supply a second control signal or actuating signal (curve 6G) to videodelay line and switch 12. The second control signal has a selected phase relative to the first control signal when no key-signal burst is impressed across terminals 70, but has an inverted phase in response to the reception of such a key-signal burst. The reversals of phase of the actuating signal applied to the video-delay line and switch are determined by the pulses of curve 6I immediately following the initiation and termination of each key-signal burst.

The receiver of FIGURE 7, which may utilize the subscription telecast from the transmitter of FIGURE 1, includes a radio-frequency amplifier having input terminals connected to an antenna circuit 116, 117 and output terminals connected to a first detector 118. The first detector is connected through an intermediate-frequency amplifier 119 to a second detector 120 which, in turn, is connected to a video amplifier 121. The video amplifier is coupled through a video-delay line and switch 122 to the input electrodes 123 of a cathode-ray imagereproducing device 124. Video-delay line and switch 122 may be similar in construction to unit 12 utilized at the transmitter, but connected in a reverse manner so that when unit 12 is in a delay condition unit 122 is in an undelayed condition and vice versa. Second detector 120 is also connected to a synchronizing-signal separator which, in turn, is connected to a field-sweep system 12s', and line-sweep system 127. The sweep systems 126 and 127 are conn-ected respectively to the field-deiiection elements 128 and line-deflection elements 129 of device 124.

Field-sweep system 126 is connected through a delay line and a differentiating circuit 131 to a mixer 132. Line-sweep system 127 is connected through the mixer to a counter 133, and the output terminals of the counter are connected to a control system 134 which may be generally similar to control system 30 of the transmitter. Field-sweep system 126 is also connected through a delay line to a difierentiator and clipper circuit 136 having output terminals connected to the control system.

The subscription television signal from the transmitter of FIGURE 1 is intercepted by antenna circuit 116, 117, amplified in radio-frequency amplifier 115 and heterodyned to the selected intermediate frequency of the receiver in first detector 118. The resulting intermediatefrequency signal is amplified in intermediate-frequency amplifier 119 and detector in second detector 120 to produce a composite video signal. The video `signal is amplified in amplifier 121 and supplied to the input electrodes 123 of reproducing device 124 through video delay-line and switch 122. The synchronizing components of the television signal are separated in separator 125 and supplied to sweep systems 126 and 127 in order that the field-and line-scansioni; of device 124 may be controlled in synchronism with the incoming signal.

Line-synchronizing pulses are derived from sweep system 127 and supplied to counter 133 through mixer 132. The counter 133 may comprise a simple multivibrator type frequency divider which in the illustrated embodiment has a 15:1 division rate in respect of the line pulses applied to the input terminals thereof. Counter 133 supplies a first control signal to control system 134 similar to the signal of curve 2E supplied to control system 30 at the transmitter.

Field-blanking pulses derived from field-sweep system 126 are delayed in delay line 130, differentiated in differentiating circuit 131 and supplied to mixer 132, The delay of line 130 is such that the positive-polarity components of the differentiated pulse from circuit 131 occur in time coincidence with the first-line synchronizing pulse of the first field of each frame of the received signal. As a result of this time coincidence, counter 133 is returned to a reference or zero count no matter what condition it might be in at that time. In this manner counter 133 is established at a reference count at the beginning of the first field of each frame with the like establishment of counter 24 at the transmitter. The technique of delay and differentiation prevents the first line-synchronizing pulse of the second or interlaced field of cach frame from occurring in time coincidence with the differentiated cld pulse.

The eld-blanking pulses are similarly delayed in delay line 135, and differentiated and clipped in circuit 136 to supply a pulse to control system 134- at thc beginning of each field, these pulses occurring in time coincidence with the reset pulses of curve 2l applied to the control `system at the transmitter. The key-signal bursts from the transmitter are received over line circuit 35 and are also applied to the control system. In like manner to that at the transmitter, control system 134 develops a second control signal similar to that developed by the control system at the transmitter and. under the control of the first control signal from counter 133. During the absence of key-signal bursts, a selected phase relation is maintained between the second control signal from control system 134- and the first control signal from the counter by the reset pulses from circuit 136 and, during the presence of a key signal burst, an inverted phase is maintained between these two signals by the` reset pulses. Consequently, each time the video-delay line and switch 12 at the transmitter is actuated to change the timing between the video and synchronizing components of the television signal, video-delay line and switch 122 at the received is also actuated to compensate for such variations. Of course, counter 133 may talce the identical form as counter 24 at the transmitter. Obvious circuit changes would have to be made to provide corresponding associated circuitry.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURE 8 additional coding is effected by varying the timing of the reset pulses applied to the counter mechanism in accordance with a coding schedule which schedule is diS- serninated to subscriber receivers in any appropriate manner. More specifically, synchronizing-signal generator 18 is connected to a multivibrator which in turn is connected to a normally-closed gate circuit 151 having input terminals coupled to DC. insertar 14 and output terminals connected to a selector 152. Multivibrator 150 is also coupled to a further multivibrator 153 which has output terminals connected to a normally-closed gate circuit 154. The gate circuit has input terminals connected to the DC. insertar and output terminals connected to selector circuit 152. The selector has further input terminals connected to the junction of multivibrator 33 and key-signal generator 34, and output terminals connected through a delay circuit 155 and shaper 156 to a mixer 157. The mixer is connected to generator 1S to receive line-drive pulses therefrom and has output terminals connected to a counter 158. The counter has further input terminals connected to generator 18 to receive fielddrive pulses and has output terminals connected to videodelay line and switch 12 by leads 159. The transmitter also includes a pair of key-signal generators and 161 having input terminals connected respectively to the output terminals of gate circuit 151 and gate circuit 154. and output terminals connected through a delay line 162 to D C. inserter 14.

The operation of the described arrangement may best be understood by reference to the curves of FIGURE 9 wherein curve SFR represents a portion of the television signal translated by D.C. inscrter 14 including those cornponents occurring during a field-retrace interval and the beginning of a succeeding field-trace interval. These cornponents comprise equalizer pulses 192, a serrated fieldsynchronizing component 193, further equalizer pulses 194 and line-synchronizing pulses 195, all pcd-:stalled on a field-blanlt'ing pulse 196. and additional line-synchronizing pulses 197 pedestalled on individual linc-blanls'ing pulses.

The positive-polarity signal of curve 9S is derived from generator 1S during field retrace and is normally used in standard television transmitters to gate in the equalizing and serrated ficld-syncl'ironizing components` 192, 193 and 194. In accordance with the present invention, this signal is additionally applied to multivibrator 150 which is triggered by the trailing edge thereof to generate the pulse of curve 9T having a duration determined by the operating cycle of the multivibrator. The trailing edge of this pulse from multivibrator 150 triggers multivibrator 153 to generate the pulse of curve 9U having a duration determined by the operating cycle of multivibrator 153. The output pulse from multivibrator 150 is delivered to gate circuit 151 while the output pulse from multivibrator 153 is supplied to gate circuit 154. The operating cycles and actuation times of multivibrators 15) and 153 are so adjusted that gate circuit 151 is opened t pass the first line-synchronizing pulse of series 195 to selector 152, as shown in curve 9V, whereas gate circuit 154 selects the second line-synchronizing pulse from series 195 for application to selector 152 as shown in curve 9W. The pulses of curves 9V and 9W are also employed, respectively, to turn on key-signal generators 160 and 161 to generate bursts of key signal corresponding in time and duration to such pulses. The key-signal generators have different operating frequencies to facilitate separating the key-signal bursts which are delayed slightly by delay line 162 and supplied to D.C. inserter 14. They are delayed so that when added to the television signal they are impressed on bianking pedestal 196 of curve 9R immediately following the corresponding line-synchronizing pulses and, in each instance, occur before the next succeeding line-synchronizing pulse. (This has not been illustrated in curve 9R because the curve is more readily understood in the absence of this additional information.

Selector 152 may conveniently comprise two electrondischarge devices feeding into a common output circuit but having individual input circuits respectively coupled to gate circuits 151, 154. responsive in alternation according to the actuation of multivibrator 33. The output signal of that multivibrator is pulse-modulated in a random fashion by divider 32 and thus comprises positive and negative components of random duration occurring in alternation. During intervals of the positive components one device of the selector functions to translate the pulses admitted by gate circuit 151, and during intervals of the negative components the other device translates the pulses admitted by gate circuit 154. From the selector, the pulses are supplied to mixer 157 through delay circuit 155 and Shaper 156. The selective actuation of the discharge devices in the selector circuit by multivibrator 33 is indicated to subscriber receivers by bursts of key signal from generator 34 which is turned on for the duration of each positive (or negative) pulse component of the output signal from the multivibrator.

Line-drive pulses from generator 18 are applied to counter S through mixer 157 and are counted thereby so that video-delay line and switch 12 may be actuated at a rate determined by the preselected count of the counter to be described in detail hereinafter. It is sutilcicnt for present purposes to note that the counter has the general form of a frequency-dividing multivibrator and is actuated from one to the other of two stable operating conditions upon the registration of a preselected count of the line-drive pulses. A reference or zero count is established in the counter from time to time as determined by the pulses delivered by selector 152 and referred to as reset pulses. These pulses are shown in curve 9X wherein the full-line representation denotes a timing corresponding to the first line-synchronizing pulse of series 195 of curve 9R, while the broken line representation denotes a timing corresponding to the second line-synchronizing pulse of that series. One or the other pulse is effective, depending upon the condition of selector 152. The pulses are delayed in circuit 155 as shown in curve 9Y and are then translated to Shaper 156 which may be any known form of pulse regenerator employed to form a pedestal pulse as shown in curve Moreover, these devices are 9?.. The delay of circuit 155 is such that the pedestal obtained from Shaper 156 (curve 92) occurs in time coincidence with the next succeeding line-drive pulse obtained from generator 18 and supplied to mixer 157. Such line-drive puise is superposed on the pedestal, as shown in curve 9AA, and exceeds the trigger level of counter 158 and returns the counter to a reference or zero count regardless of its particular operating condition at that time. Therefore, during each field-retrace interval the counter is returned to a reference count but at times corresponding to the second or third linesynchronizing pulse of series 195 (curve 9R) depending upon the condition of selector 152. lt is apparent that multivibrators 151i, 153 can be controlled so that gate circuits 151, 154 select pulses from series 195 other than the second and third, and that any such selected pulses may be used for the above-described purposes.

In other words, counter 158 is returned to a reference condition after each field-trace interval but at a time determined by the reset pulses from gate circuit 151 for one operating condition of selector 152, and at a time established by the reset pulses from gate circuit 154 during the other operating condition of the selector. The resetting of counter 158 varies, therefore, each time the selector is actuated from one to the other of its operating conditions, and these variations are indicated to subscriber receivers by bursts of key signal on line circuit 35. Counter 158, therefore, responds to the line-drive pulses to supply an actuating signal to video-delay line and switch 12 having amplitude excursions occurring, for example, every fifteenth line of each field trace. To complicate the coding, the counter is returned to a reference condition after each field trace but at a selected time determined by the operation of selector 152. Thus, encoding device 12 is actuated from one operating condition to the next at time intervals depending upon the duration of the counting cycle of counter 15S, and the duration of the counting cycle is varied by the operation of selector 152.

The counter 158, shown in FIGURE 8A, comprises a pair of electron-discharge devices 167 and 172. The anode 168 of device 167 is connected to the positive terminal of a source of unidirectional potential 169 through a load resistor 17!) and resistor 192 and is coupled to the control electrode 171 of device 172 through a coupling capacitor 173. The cathodes 174 and 175 of devices 167 and 172 are connected to ground through a common resistor 176 shunted by a capacitor 177, while the control electrodes of these devices are connected to the cathodes through resistor 178 and 179, respectively. The anode of device 172 is connected to the positive terminal of source 169 through a load resistor 181 and resistor 192, and is coupled to control electrode 166 through a capacitor 182. Cathodcs 174 and 175 are also connccted to the positive terminal of source 169 through a resistor 183. Anode 180 is connected to one of the output terminals 184 of the circuit while the other output terminal is connected to ground. The circuit includes a pair of input terminals connected to mixer 157 to derive the line-drive pulses, one of the terminals 165 being grounded and the other connected to the junction of resistors and 192. The circuit also includes a further pair of input terminals 135 connected to generator 18 to derive held-drive pulses therefrom. One terminal 185 is grounded and the other is connected to the control electrode 186 of an electron-discharge device 137. The cathode 138 of device 187 is connected to ground through a cathode resistor 189 shunted by a capacitor 19t) and is also connected to the positive terminal of source 169 through a resistor 193. The anode 191 is connected to control electrode 166 of device 167.

Devices 167 and 172 constitute a well-known frequency-dividing multivibrator differing from the usual type only in that the cathodes of the devices are established at a positive potential with respect to ground by virtue of the potentiometer connection of resistors 176 and 183. Assume initially that the multivibrator has been tripped rendering device 167 non-conductive and device 172 conductive. At this time capacitor 182 is charged to establish control electrode 166 at a more negative potential relative to cathode 174, and this charge gradually leaks off through resistor 178. Positive-polarity line-drive pulses applied across terminals 165 are delivered to the control electrodes of both devices 167 and 172. These pulses have no effect on device 172 which is conductive and have no effect on device 167 until the charge on capacitor 132 has reduced to a point where a line-drive pulse on control electrode 166 exceeds the trigger level of the device and trips the circuit to its second operating condition in which device 167 is conductive and device 172 non-conductive. The circuit parameters are so chosen that this occurs, for example, at the fifteenth line-drive pulse following the first-mentioned trip of the multivibrator.

Capacitor 173 is now charge-d and biases control electrode 171 more negative with respect to cathode 175, and this charge leaks off through resistor 179 sufficiently that the succeeding fifteenth line-drive pulse returns the circuit to its first described condition. In this manner, a control or actuating signal is supplied to output terminals 184 for application to video-delay line and switch 12. This signal has amplitude excursions occurring each fifteenth line of each field trace period to .actuate that unit at these times and effect changes in the mode of operation of the transmitter in the manner explained in connection with FIGURE 1.

As previously mentioned, the multivibrator circuit is established at a reference condition during each fieldretrace interval but at a selected time that may vary from one field-retrace interval to another or in a random rather than in a fixed pattern. This is achieved as follows. During field-trace intervals, device 187 is non-conductive due to the forced bias applied to its cathode 188 by potentiometer 189, 193 and has no effect on the circuit of devices 167 and 172. field-retrace interval a field-drive pulse impressed on terminals 185 renders device 187 conductive. For the duration of the field drive pulse, control electrode 166 of device 167 is driven negative with respect to its cathode 174, assuming a potential corresponding substantially to the potential of cathode 188. Resistors 193 and 189 are given such values with respect to resistors 183 and 176 that the potential of cathode 188 is much less than that of cathode 174. For example, cathode 174 may have a forced bias potential of approximately thirty volts,

whereas cathode 188 has a forced bias potential of two i or three volts. Consequently, the circuit of devices 167 and 172 is established in that operating condition wherein device 167 is non-conductive and device 172 is conductive. Capacitor 182 has acquired a high negative charge so that after the termination of the field-drive pulse the circuit of devices 167 and 172 remains in this condition and does not respond to the immediately subsequent line-drive pulses impressed across terminals 165. Finally, however, a line-drive pulse pedestalled upon the output pulse from shaper 156 is received from mixer 157 with an amplitude level high enough to trigger the multivibrator to its alternate operating condition. In this manner, during each field-retrace interval, the circuit of devices 167 and 172 is initially established in a rst operating condition and is triggered to its second operating condition by the line-drive pulse combined with a pedestal pulse in mixer 157. Therefore, a fixed phase is established in the trigger circuit during each fieldretrace interval but under the time control exercised by selector 152 which determines the time of occurrence of the output pulse from shaper 156.

The receiver arrangement of FIGURE 10 is intended to operate in conjunction with the transmitter coding system of FIGURE 8. It includes a selector 200 connected However, at the start of each to video amplifier 121 thi ugh a pair of parallel arranged ltey-signal ltcr and rectifier units 201 and 202, respectively selective to the frequencies of the key signals produced by generators 160 and 161 of FIGURE 8. The selector is further connected to line circuit 35 extending to the subscription transmitter and has output terminals coupled to a mixer 203 through a delay line 204 and a Shaper circuit 205. Mixer 203 has input terminals connected to the line-sweep system 127 of the receiver to derive line-synchronizing pulses therefrom and has output terminals connected to a counter 206. Counter 206 `is also connected to a field-sweep system 126 to derive field-synchronizing pulses therefrom and has output terminals connected to delay line and switch 122 included in the video channel of the receiver.

The bursts of key signal selected and rectified by units 201 and 202 are impressed on selector 200 which is controlled by the key-signal bursts received over line circuit 35 to translate one or `the other of the rectified key signals to delay line 204 in the same manner as and in time coincidence with the application of one or the other of the pulse outputs of selector 152 at the transmitter to its associated delay line 155. The selected and translated pulses, after a delay in line 204, are shaped in circuit 205 and supplied to mixer 203 where they arrive in time coincidence with the pulses of curve 9Z at the transmitter. Counter 206, which may be similar in construction to counter 158 at the transmitter, supplies a control signal to delay line and switch 122 to actuatc that unit in synchronism, but in a compensating sense, with respect to the actuation of unit 12 at the transmitter. During cach field-retrace interval, counter 206 receives a field-synchronizing pulse from field-sweep system 126 as well as line-synchronizing pulses from linesweep system 127 and a pedestal pulse from Shaper 205 which conjointly phase thc counter as described in connection with FIGURE 8A. In this manner, the receiver compensates for the timing variations in the television signal, which variations occur during field trace intervals at intervals corresponding, for example, to every l51ines. Moreover, the counter is established at a reference count during each field-retrace interval in time coincidence with the establishing of a reference count at the transmitter as determined by the key signal received over line 35 and supplied to selector 200 which accordingly translates output pulses from unit 201 or unit 202. a

In the transmitter arrangement of FIGURE 8, two pulses are selected in each field-retrace period from the series 195 (curve 9H) of line-drive pulses and one or the other is employed in establishing a reset condition or reference count in the counter. A more flexible arrangement, providing for a wider selection of pulses from series 195, is illustrated in FIGURE 1l. In that embodiment, a multivibrator 210 has one set of input terminals connected to synchronizing-signal generator 18 and a further set of input terminals connected to a noise source or generator 212 while the output terminals are connected through another multivibrator 211 to gate circuit 151. Generator 18 is also connected through a delay line 213 to a gate circuit 214 having output terminals connected to the input terminals of a multivibrator 215 which has further input terminals directly connected to generator 18, still further input terminals connected to a noise source 216 and output terminals connected through a multivibrator 217 to gate circuit 154. The output terminals of multivibrator 210 are also connected through a multivibrator 218 to gate circuit 214. As previously, the input terminals of gate circuits 151 and 154 are connected to direct-current inserter 14 and their output terminals are connected to selector circuit 152.

In considering the operation of the circuit of FIGURE 11 reference is made to the curves of FIGURE l2, wherein curve 12DD represents the synchronizing and pedestal components of a portion of the television signal translated by inserter 14, similar to the representation of curve 

